Researchers discuss a new method for making surface acoustic wave (SAW) microfluidic devices using aerosol jet printing. SAW microfluidic devices are used in lab-on-a-chip applications for tasks such as manipulating fluids and particles. Traditionally, these devices have been made using photolithography, a slow and expensive process. Aerosol jet printing is a much faster and easier way to make SAW microfluidic devices.
The researchers used aerosol printing to make SAW microfluidic devices from various materials, including piezoelectric polymers and metals. They were able to make devices with different operating frequencies. The devices worked just as well as devices made in a cleanroom using traditional methods.
Aerosol jet printing is faster, easier, and more versatile than traditional methods. This could make SAW microfluidic devices more accessible to researchers and lead to new applications for these devices. This is a significant advance because it could make it possible to produce these devices more cheaply and quickly. This could lead to new applications for lab-on-a-chip devices, such as in point-of-care testing.
Aerosol jet printing is a non-contact printing process that uses a pressurized stream of gas to carry ink droplets onto a substrate. The droplets of ink can be very small, which allows for high-resolution printing. It can be used to print various materials, including polymers, metals, and ceramics.
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